{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3600.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3600.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3600.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3600.html"}],"law_id":57952,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57952,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3600","catch_line":"Petition for incorporation of community; appointment of special court","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-66; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-966; 1964, c. 467; 1975, c. 629; 1976, c. 586; 1979, c. 85; 1980, c. 45; 1997, c. 587; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","full_text":"A petition signed by 100 voters of any community may be presented to the circuit court for the county in which such community, or the greater part thereof, is situated, requesting that the community be incorporated as a town. A plat showing the boundaries of the community shall be attached to the petition. The circuit court with which the petition is filed shall notify the Supreme Court, which shall appoint a special court to hear the case as prescribed by Chapter 30 (\u00a7 15.2-3000 et seq.) of this title. The plat shall be prepared by a registered surveyor in a form suitable for recording in the clerk’s office of the circuit court. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the county attorney or, if there is no county attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth, and each member of the governing body of the county or counties wherein the area sought to be incorporated lies. The governing body at its option may become a party to the proceeding. The petition shall be accompanied by proof that:\n\n1\n\nThe petition has been available for public inspection in the office of the clerk of the circuit court; and2\n\nThe following have been published three times in a newspaper having general circulation in the county, with the first publication appearing no more than 35 days before and the third publication appearing no less than seven days before the petition will be presented:\n\t\t\ta. Notice of the time and place the petition would be presented; and\n\t\t\tb. The text of the petition in full; or\n\t\t\tc. A descriptive summary of the petition and notice that the petition may be inspected at the circuit court clerk’s office.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":212256,"text":"A petition signed by 100 voters of any community may be presented to the circuit court for the county in which such community, or the greater part thereof, is situated, requesting that the community be incorporated as a town. A plat showing the boundaries of the community shall be attached to the petition. The circuit court with which the petition is filed shall notify the Supreme Court, which shall appoint a special court to hear the case as prescribed by Chapter 30 (\u00a7 15.2-3000 et seq.) of this title. The plat shall be prepared by a registered surveyor in a form suitable for recording in the clerk’s office of the circuit court. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the county attorney or, if there is no county attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth, and each member of the governing body of the county or counties wherein the area sought to be incorporated lies. The governing body at its option may become a party to the proceeding. The petition shall be accompanied by proof that:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":212257,"text":"The petition has been available for public inspection in the office of the clerk of the circuit court; and","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":212258,"text":"The following have been published three times in a newspaper having general circulation in the county, with the first publication appearing no more than 35 days before and the third publication appearing no less than seven days before the petition will be presented:\n\t\t\ta. Notice of the time and place the petition would be presented; and\n\t\t\tb. The text of the petition in full; or\n\t\t\tc. A descriptive summary of the petition and notice that the petition may be inspected at the circuit court clerk’s office.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15217,"edition_id":1,"name":"Incorporation of Towns by Judicial Proceeding","identifier":"36","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:07","permalink":{"id":157477,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15217,"identifier":"36","token":"15.2\/III\/36","url":"\/15.2\/III\/36\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13062,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":156919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13062,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57952,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3600","catch_line":"Petition for incorporation of community; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3600\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3600","metadata":false},{"id":71496,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3601","catch_line":"Hearing before Commission on Local Government; notice; parties; finding of Commission","url":"\/15.2-3601\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3601","metadata":false},{"id":81086,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3602","catch_line":"Proof required and order for incorporation","url":"\/15.2-3602\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3602","metadata":false},{"id":74965,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3603","catch_line":"Request for charter","url":"\/15.2-3603\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3603","metadata":false},{"id":73019,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3604","catch_line":"How first election ordered and held","url":"\/15.2-3604\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3604","metadata":false},{"id":78094,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3605","catch_line":"How appeals granted and heard","url":"\/15.2-3605\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3605","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":71496,"structure_id":15217,"section_number":"15.2-3601","catch_line":"Hearing before Commission on Local Government; notice; parties; finding of Commission","url":"\/15.2-3601\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3601","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3600\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 623; in 1964, chapter 467; in 1975, chapter 629; in 1976, chapter 586; in 1979, chapter 85; in 1980, chapter 45; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 506<\/a> and 507<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 225<\/a> and 242<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":83819,"section_number":"15.2-1301","catch_line":"Voluntary economic growth-sharing agreements","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1301\/"},{"id":67178,"section_number":"15.2-2316.2","catch_line":"Localities may provide for transfer of development rights","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2316.2\/"},{"id":85081,"section_number":"15.2-3000","catch_line":"Special court to hear certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3000\/"},{"id":57984,"section_number":"15.2-3534","catch_line":"Optional provisions of consolidation agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3534\/"},{"id":79307,"section_number":"36-132.1","catch_line":"Commission on Local Government","order_by":null,"url":"\/36-132.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":85081,"section_number":"15.2-3000","catch_line":"Special court to hear certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3000\/"}],"permalink":{"id":157479,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57952,"identifier":"15.2-3600","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3600","url":"\/15.2-3600\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3600\/","token":"15.2\/III\/36\/15.2-3600","dublin_core":{"Title":"Petition for incorporation of community; appointment of special court","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3600","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A petition<\/span> signed by 100 voters<\/span> of any community may be presented to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> in which such community, or the greater part thereof, is situated, requesting that the community be incorporated as a town<\/span>. A plat showing the boundaries of the community shall be attached to the petition<\/span>. The circuit<\/span> court<\/span> with which the petition<\/span> is filed shall notify the Supreme Court<\/span>, which shall appoint a special court<\/span> to hear the case as prescribed by Chapter 30 (\u00a7 15.2-3000<\/a> et seq.) of this title. The plat shall be prepared by a registered surveyor in a form suitable for recording in the clerk’s office of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>. A copy of the petition<\/span> shall be served upon the county<\/span> attorney or, if there is no county<\/span> attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth, and each member of the governing body<\/span> of the county<\/span> or counties wherein the area sought to be incorporated lies. The governing body<\/span> at its option may become a party<\/span> to the proceeding. The petition<\/span> shall be accompanied by proof that:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The petition<\/span> has been available for public inspection in the office of the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The following have been published three times in a newspaper having general circulation in the county<\/span>, with the first publication appearing no more than 35 days before and the third publication appearing no less than seven days before the petition<\/span> will be presented:\n\t\t\ta. Notice of the time and place the petition<\/span> would be presented; and\n\t\t\tb. The text of the petition<\/span> in full; or\n\t\t\tc. A descriptive summary of the petition<\/span> and notice that the petition<\/span> may be inspected at the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk’s office. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF COMMUNITY; APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COURT (\u00a7\n15.2-3600)\n\nA petition signed by 100 voters of any community may be presented to the circuit\ncourt for the county in which such community, or the greater part thereof, is\nsituated, requesting that the community be incorporated as a town. A plat\nshowing the boundaries of the community shall be attached to the petition. The\ncircuit court with which the petition is filed shall notify the Supreme Court,\nwhich shall appoint a special court to hear the case as prescribed by Chapter 30\n(\u00a7 15.2-3000 et seq.) of this title. The plat shall be prepared by a registered\nsurveyor in a form suitable for recording in the clerk’s office of the\ncircuit court. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the county attorney\nor, if there is no county attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth, and each\nmember of the governing body of the county or counties wherein the area sought\nto be incorporated lies. The governing body at its option may become a party to\nthe proceeding. The petition shall be accompanied by proof that:\n\n1. The petition has been available for public inspection in the office of the\nclerk of the circuit court; and\n\n2. The following have been published three times in a newspaper having general\ncirculation in the county, with the first publication appearing no more than 35\ndays before and the third publication appearing no less than seven days before\nthe petition will be presented:\n\t\t\ta. Notice of the time and place the petition would be presented; and\n\t\t\tb. The text of the petition in full; or\n\t\t\tc. A descriptive summary of the petition and notice that the petition may be\ninspected at the circuit court clerk’s office.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-66; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-966; 1964, c. 467; 1975, c.\n629; 1976, c. 586; 1979, c. 85; 1980, c. 45; 1997, c. 587; 2023, cc. 506, 507;\n2024, cc. 225, 242.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}